Strawberry Pop Pop Pop - Chap 56

Chap 56
On the way, the taxi driver was playing a gossip program.
The two radio hosts were casually discussing some entertainment industry gossip,
specifically about a popular Alpha celebrity and a Beta celebrity getting married.
The male host exclaimed, “Who would have thought that in recent years, more and more
Alpha and Beta celebrities are getting married, completely overturning the previous
situation! Is the era where pheromones and compatibility were everything now over?”
The female host chimed in, “Setting aside pheromones, as viewers, we can just enjoy the
sight of talented people, regardless of their gender. After all, in today’s society, career is
what matters most!”
Gu Nuan felt increasingly uncomfortable and said to the driver, “Could you please switch to
a different channel?”
The driver changed the channel to a serious news station.
The host on the new channel was reporting, “Recent marriage registration data shows that
many Alphas are choosing Beta partners. And the new drug developed by the Gu Group
provides a choice for Alphas and Omegas who have been troubled by pheromones and
markings…”
Gu Nuan despairingly said, “Driver, can you please turn off the radio?”
The driver hesitated for a moment and then complied, turning off the radio.
“It’s really annoying.”
Gu Nuan sat in the back seat with a lack of energy, opened He Yunchu’s online profile, and
the first thing he noticed in the gender section was “male Beta.”
Gu Nuan sighed deeply and asked the driver, “If you were an Alpha, would you want to
marry a Beta?”

“If I were an Alpha, I’d definitely want to find an Omega!” The driver, a Beta, envied the
connection and bonding between Alphas and Omegas. Unlike Beta couples, they didn’t have
pheromones to ease tensions during arguments. He and his wife had been giving each other
the silent treatment for three days now, and neither was willing to back down.
Gu Nuan was about to enthusiastically agree, but the driver continued, “But Betas probably
have fewer worries, right? I heard that once Alphas and Omegas have any emotional
markings, it can be really troublesome. Some of them can’t even see each other for a long
time and might even get depressed. In today’s society, your career is the most important
thing!”
With that, the driver felt relieved that he and his wife were both Betas.
Gu Nuan briefly considered Han Yang’s career and realized that they had spent very little
time together in the past six months. He reluctantly accepted the driver’s statement.
If Han Yang really wanted to focus on his career, he wouldn’t consider marrying an Omega,
especially not someone like himself with gland issues and frequent instability.
He absentmindedly touched his unresponsive gland, lost in thought, wondering what he
was thinking.
The next day, Gu Nuan woke up early.
After getting ready, he went downstairs and saw Ji Mu having breakfast.

“Where’s Father?”
“He’s busy today and went to the office early,” Ji Mu informed him while havingnAuntie Xu
prepare some toast and a cup of milk for Gu Nuan. “I’ll be heading to the C district shopping
mall after work. Do you need anything?”
“No,” Gu Nuan replied.
Auntie Xu brought over the toast and milk. Gu Nuan, absentmindedly, said, “You don’t have
to get me anything.”
“Is something bothering you?”
Gu Nuan shook his head.
It was said that teenagers had a lot on their minds, and Ji Mu suspected that Gu Nuan’s
concerns were probably related to Han Yang. Gu Nuan had left early yesterday and even
gone to the neighboring city. Ji Mu could easily guess that his son had visited Han Yang’s
workplace.
While Ji Mu believed it was best not to meddle in young people’s affairs, he couldn’t stand
seeing his son constantly gloomy like this.
Ji Mu casually asked, “Did you meet Han Yang yesterday? He’s so good-looking; he should
be quite popular over there, right? Is anyone pursuing him?”
The toast slipped from Gu Nuan’s hand, making a loud noise when it hit the plate.

Ji Mu’s heart also skipped a beat; he had actually guessed correctly.
Gu Nuan picked up the toast again and tried to eat it, but it tasted dry and tasteless. He
mumbled, “I don’t know. I didn’t ask him.”
Ji Mu remained silent.
The two of them continued eating breakfast with their own thoughts.
After a while, Ji Mu said, “We need to go to D city next month.”
Gu Nuan, who was chewing his toast in confusion, looked up.
Ji Mu said in a good mood. “The doctor in D city, who has a lot of experience in treating
gland-related conditions, has finally returned to China this month. I’ve already arranged it,
so we can go there directly.”
Such conversations had occurred numerous times over the past four years.
Gu Nuan lowered his head, and the toast in his mouth suddenly felt tasteless and dry the
more he chewed. “Dad,” he finally said after struggling to find the right words, “have you
ever thought about what would happen if I can’t get better?”
When he spoke, it was the first time he had ever made such an expression.
It was also the first time Ji Mu had seen such an expression from him.
Ji Mu was momentarily speechless, staring at Gu Nuan in surprise. When he saw the
sadness in Gu Nuan’s eyes, he instinctively turned his head away, and his eyes became
slightly red. Under the table, Ji Mu’s hands clasped together, and upon closer inspection,
they were trembling slightly.
Gu Nuan noticed it, and that’s why he had hesitated several times before voicing the words,
“I don’t want to go through anymore.”
Over the course of four years, Ji Mu and Gu Yuanchen had devoted so much time, effort, and
heartache to his gland condition, and Gu Nuan was well aware of that fact.
In the prolonged silence, both of them lost their appetite for breakfast.

Finally, it was Gu Nuan who spoke up first. “I was just talking nonsense,” he said, finishing
his glass of milk and returning to his usual smile. “Dad, I’m full now. I’ll go back to my
room.”
Three hours later, there was a knock on Gu Nuan’s bedroom door.
Ji Mu hadn’t gone to work. He opened the door and saw Gu Nuan sitting on the bed, his
head hanging low.
“Why didn’t you go to work, Dad?” Gu Nuan quickly perked up when he saw Ji Mu coming
in.
Ji Mu approached, sat on the edge of Gu Nuan’s bed, and placed his hand on Gu Nuan’s
shoulder. “Nuan.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve thought it over carefully, and I also talked to your father just now…” Ji Mu’s eyes, like
Gu Nuan’s, had a faint amber hue, a gentle look that was familiar to Gu Nuan. “Our thoughts
align.”
Gu Nuan raised his head, puzzled, and looked at him.
Ji Mu’s grip on Gu Nuan’s shoulder tightened slightly as he spoke softly, “Nuan, the gland is
a crucial part of an Omega’s body. If it can be treated, I hope you can hold on a little longer.”
His eyes welled up, and he took a deep breath.
Gu Nuan didn’t want to make Ji Mu sad. He reached out and wiped away the moisture at the
corner of Ji Mu’s eye, his voice uncertain, “I…”
Ji Mu held his hand, squeezing it gently as he continued, “This old doctor is truly an expert
in this field. Let’s visit him once. If it still doesn’t work… no matter whether you choose to
be an Omega or a Beta, both your father and I will be on your side.“
He tightened his grip on Gu Nuan’s hand, wanting to squeeze it harder but afraid of hurting
him.
Ji Mu spoke softly, “Is that okay?”
Gu Nuan’s nose tingled with emotion. He nodded and leaned in to hug Ji Mu, his voice
choked with tears, “Thank you, Dad.”